Tunneling apparatus



I. 0. MACK. TUN-NELING APPARATUS. v APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, I918.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

7 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A TTORNE Y J. 0. MACK. TUNNEUNG APPARATUS. APPLICATION Fl-LED MAYZI,1.918

1,338,237. Patented Apr, 1920.

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1. 0. MACK.

I TUNNELING APP ARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAYZI, I918- '1,338,237.Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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' iii? I In J. O. MACK.

'TUNNELING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21 19.18. r

Patented Apr. 27,1920, I SHEETSSHEET 4.

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J. O. MACK.

: TUNNELING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|, 1918. 1,338,237. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

J. 0. MACK.

TUNNELING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ'I, 1918.

Y Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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JAMES O. MACK, OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.

TUNNELING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr, 27, 1920.

Application fi1ed.May 21, 1918'. Serial. 3

1 b all 'IliLOi/L 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES O. MACK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alexandria, in the, parish of Rapides and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTunneling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention represents a development of that type of tunnelexcavating apparatus disclosed in my co-pending application SerialNumber 221,703, filed lvlarch 11th, 1918, these improvements having astheir object the combination with the excavating instrumentalities ofmeans for applying a lining to the excavation as the operation proceedsInvolved in this arrangement is the further, combination of means forconveying the lining elements continuously to the machine and to theapplying means aforesaid. so that the tunnel is driven and linedautomatically at a high rate of speed.

iii lore specifically my invention consists in the combination withexcavating instrumentalities driven from a suitable source of power, ofconveying means for removing the material to the exterior of the tunnelas'it is excavated, and including means for conveying into the tunnel aseries of lining members, and mechanism normally inactive but designedto be brought into play intermittently by these lining member the1n--selves as they reach the approximate point of application, saidmechanism being tripped to establish operating connection with the powerto thereby elevate the particular lining member from the conveying meansinto wall engaging position.

Er not unimportant object of my present device is to provide novelexcavating means which are so constructed as to very mate rially aid infacilitating the rapidity of cutting ction of the cutters by utilizingpeculiar ribboning knives which act upon the earth previous to theremoval by the shovels. A still further object lies in the provision forquickly detaching the main cutter head from the apparatus so that thelatter may run rearwardly out of the tunnel if need be. withoutdisplacing the lining.

Among other objects may also be mentioned the provision of specialconveying means for the lining elements so constructed as to retain tllining members in slightly contracted form until they are separated fromthe conveying means by the applying mechanism heretofore referred to andallowed to expand, and in so expanding automatically attach themselvesto the wall of the excavation.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained bythe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to behereinafter specifically described and claimed. Reference will now behad to the accompanying drawings forming-a part of this specification,wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the forwardportion of an excavating machine constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig; 2 shows an elevation of the rear portion of the apparatus and theforward end of a conveyer unit attached to the machine;

Fig. 2-3 is also a side elevation showing a further portion of thetrailing conveyer used with this device;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of that portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of that portion of the apparatus which isshown in Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted for the purposes ofclearness;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the cutting instrumentalities Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view taken about on the line indicated by the line7-7 of Fig. 1, one of the cutting elements being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carrier block for the liners;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View in perspective of contiguous end portionsof the conveyor showing more clearly how the liners are transferred fromone conveyer unlt to the next;

Fig. 10 1s a side elevation of one of the 'ribboning knives for theexcavators;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of one of said knives. 3

Throughout the following detail 'dGSCIlP- tion and on the severalfigures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

It will be understood that the apparatus which forms the subject matterof't'his invention is especially designed for excavating beneath thesurface of the ground and has a wide range of utility in work of thischaracter. It should be stated, however, that my object is moreespecially to provide a machine'which is useful in war operations alonglines which have been specified in my previous application hereinbeforereferred to. It further possesses advantages for providing forcommunication with the first line trenches, with dugouts, withammunition dumps access to which over the surface is practicallyimpossible under present methods of warfare owing to the exposureincident to bringing up of the supplies to the points referred to. Owingto the fact that the present machine is capable of excavating arelatively small bore at a considerable speed, its value in this type ofoperation will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which theinvention appertains.

Vith this explanation and referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will beobserved that the machine proper is carried by a suitable frame mountedupon caterpillar members 1, the frame supporting a shiftable beam 2 bymeans of which the direction of excavation either upwardly, downwardly,or laterali i'. is controlled by devices hereafter more specilicallypointed out. The apparatus carries a high power motor 3 which issupplied with current from a suitable source of power preferablyarranged at the entrance to the excavation. The power is taken off fromsaid motor at its rear extremity through the worm 4t and the jack shaft5 which transmits motion to longitudinal shafts (5 one at either side ofthe machine, I and in turn to the vertical shafts 7 at the forwardportion of the apparatus. These latter shafts are so constructed as topermit of relative movement of the beam with re gard to the supportingframe. For the purposes of (fOllVGlllOllCQ 1 provide main clutchesdesignated 8 for the shafts 6 which are operated by the rod 9 from apoint convenient to the seat 10 for the operator. In addition to saidmain clutches by means of which drive to the caterpillar is entirelydisconnected from the motor, I provide auxiliary Cllltt'lltS 11 whichpermit of independent control of the caterpillar elements for re versalor forward drive of both or each.

Directional changes of the apparatus may be effected somewhat after themanner of the apparatus in my previous applicati m. the beam beingpivotally mounted upon the axis .12 at the forward end of the frame forvertical movement and being pivotally connected by the king bolt 13 (seeFig. 7) for lateral shifting. Vertical movement is imparted to this beamby any suitable lifting jack arrangement through the instrumentality ofthe clutch control 14L operated by the manual shifting means 15 so as tooperate the rack and pinion 16 through the shaft 17 from the motordrive.

Passing now to the excavating instrumen- The construction of this cutteris such that 7 when the rearmest shovel is in the position shown in Fig.1 it receives the earth from the uppermost shovel upon its bottom andthus each shovel in its turn acts to transfer the excavated materialinto the conveyer. This excavator operates about the transverse axis 22which is actuated through the instrumentality of the inclined shafts 23through worm and gear connection indicated at, power being furnished bythe motor 3 and taken off at the forward end of the same through theworm 25 and transverse shaft 26. This excavator, it shouldbe furthermorenoted, is designed to excavate a relatively small bore while said boreis enlarged by the outer annular cutter 19 now to be 7 more specificallydescribed.

The said last mentioned cutter is likewise at its cutting edges providedwith ribboning knives 21 and said cutter is mounted upon an annularframe piece 27 which is pro-- vided with suitable anti-friction rollers28 operating in the channel 29, said cutter head being detachablyconnected through the instrumentality of the levers 30, a suitablenumber of these being provided, each having a pin 31 which passesthrough and into the channel piece 29 which piece, it will be observed,is internally toothed as indicated at 32 to provide a rack by means ofwhich the cutter headvis operated from the motor 3 through the shafts 38having driving connection with the worm 25 through the lower transverseshaft 84-.

Mounted upon the frame 27 at the top thereof is a segmental cam 85, bestseen in 7. This cam is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 36 and hasconnected to its lower end an actuating rod 37 connected with the handlever 38 so that whenever it is de sired to disconnect the cutter headfrom the apparatus this segmental. cam is shifted until. it lies in. thepath of the levers 30 above described. The free ends of these leversride upon the cam and pull their respective pins 31 out of the channelpiece 29 allowing the cutter head to fall from its place when themachine rearvvardl moved with respect to said cutter head. i

The dirt or excavated material from these excavators deposited upon theflight conveyer, indicated generally at 39, where it is removed to therear portion of the apparatus and dumped upon the trailing conveyer theforward portion of which is seen in Fig. 2 and indicated 40. At thispoint it may be desirable to mention that a guard plate 41 is arrangedat the forward extremity of the main conveyer 39, mounted upon the beam2 so as to co'ciperate with the excavator 18. This plate is suitablynotched as indicated at 42 so as to permit the passage of the ribboningknives 21 therethrough during the rotation of the excavator. This platetherefore constitutes a cleaner for these knives and insures that theexcavated material will be transferred onto the conveyer 39 asdescribed.

As in my previous application, the trailing conveyer consists of aseries of units having pivotal connection one with the other and at theforward extremity of the complete conveyer it is also pivoted to therear portion of the excavating apparatus itself. The conveyer isactuated through operative connection with the motor 3. In theparticular disclosure this drive is obtained indirectly from thecaterpillar drive by means of the worm and gear connection indicated at43 (see Fig. 2), and the longitudinal shaft or shafts 44 mounted uponthe respective trailer units. The drive from the main motor ispreferably utilized for a certain number of these units, after which thesubsequent units may be supplied with a motor drive of their own whichoperates synchronously with the main drive.

The trailing conveyer performs two functions. It is provided with theconveyer belt, speaking with reference to a single unit, 45 by means ofwhich the dirt is moved toward the rear to the entrance of the tunnel.It is further provided with conveyer belts 46 for the purpose ofcarrying in the opposite direction certain lining elements by means ofwhich the bore of the tunnel is provided with a lining in the mannerhereinafter specified. The drive for these respective conveyer belts isobtained from the main conveyer drive shafts 44, each shaft carrying agear 47. see Fig. 3, driving a shaft 48 from which motion is imparted tothe chain or belt 49. At the opposite end the drive from this dirtconveyer is imparted to the liner conveyer through the worm Sllilfi. 50or any other suitable operative connection.

The frame of the conveyer units carries at each side a channel rail 51(see Fig. 9) and said rails constitute the supporting means for theliner elements one of which is distinctly seen in Fig. 2 and designated52. It will be observed that each liner is semicircular in form and theends of the same, as seen in 7, are flanged laterally as indicated at Iemploy this particular type of liner element becz'tuse it is designed tobe self attaching, the flanges 53 being utilixed as the means forholding the liner plates in position upon the wall of the tunnel. Eachof these plates is preferably carried into the tunnel by the conveyer bymeans of special anti-friction devices one of which is particularlyshown in Fig. 8 and designated 55. At one side this carrier is providedwith suitable rollers 56, and at the other side is formed a groove 57 toreceive the flange of the liner plate upon which said carrier block isdisposed. These blocks operate in the channel rails and have in additionto the foregoing a laterally projecting finger 58 which is designed toextend into the path of lingers 59 upon the conveyer chains 46.

When the liner plate is mounted in position upon the conveyer it isslightly contracted and it will pass from one unit of the conveyer tothe other until it reaches the main portion of the machine which is alsoprovided with side channel rails 51'. However, these channel rails atthe forward portion of the machine are slightly cut away as indicated at60 in Fig. 4 for the purpose of readily separating the plates from theconveyer by mechanism now to be described. I

Mounted upon the excavator at a suitable place, in this instance uponthe top of the motor casing, is a lifting lever 61 pivoted at 62. Thislever is curved and lies in the path of travel of the liner plates, thenormal inoperative position of the lever being indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1. The free or forward end of the lever 61 is connected to apitman 63 which is mounted upon the crank shaft 64 driven from the motor3 by a train of gearing generally indi "ated by the numeral 65, a clutch66 being interposed in order to interrupt the drive in the mannerhereinafter described. Pivotally mounted upon the lever 61 is a triplever or trigger 67, the lower end of which contacts with the clutchlever 68 and holds the clutch in disengaged position. The upper end ofthis lever 6. projects above the upper surface of the elevating lever 61so that when the liner plate advances over this lever 61 it will impingethe upper extremity of lever 67 and disengage the same from the clutchlever 68. This latter being springactuated throws in the clutch 66,whereupon the crank shaft is rotated and the lever 61. through theinstrumentality of the pitlnan 63 is elevated, carrying with it theliner plate which has by this time reached the proper position for beingdisengaged from the channel rails 51 at the cut-away portion 60.Immediately the liner plate has been pressed against the top of thetunnel the ends springing from their rail support engage with the walland fasten themselves in position. This permits the lever 67 to as sumoa vertical position as the crank shaft turns over and the continuationof the operation of the crank shaft for the lever 61 lowers the saidlever 61 until the clutch lever 68 is again impinged by the lever 67,resulting in a throwing out of the clutch 66. Shortly thereafter, and atthe proper time, the succeeding liner element again impinges the lever67 and the operation just described is repeated, so that we have anintermittent actuation of this mechanism which results in an automaticapplication of a liner plate to the tunnel bore as the machineprogresses with the tunneling operation.

By such arrangement the dirt is prevented from caving in from theceiling and sides of the tunnel, leaving the bore clear for access andfor removal oi the apparatus at the proper time. Of course when tnemachine moves rearwardly tor the purpose of receding from the excavatedtunnel the cut tcr head 19 is detached in the manner hereinbe'loredescribed, said cutter head being si'ibsequently recoverable it desiredwhen the machine has been removed, the head being made of boltedsections capable of being separated to facilitate removal. I might alsostate at this point that in the application of the lining elements tothe tunnel wall in the manner hereinbeiore described, the carrier blocksdetach themselves from the flanges of the liner plate and may also besubsequently recovered if desired.

I do not wish, however, to be restricted to this specific method oftransmission of the lining units to the point of application as othermethods may readily be adopted to perform the operation, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art of this apparatus. Many of theother details may also be modilied without in any way departing from thespirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims heretoappended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In excavating apparatus of the class described, the combination withexcavating means, a support therefor adapted to carry tunnel liningmembers and means for moving the support, oi mechanism for automaticallyapplying said lining members to the wall of excavation during theexcavating operation.

2. In excavating apparatus of the class described, the combination withexcavating means, a support therefor adapted to carry tunnel liningmembers and for moving the support, of intermittently operated mechanismon the support for applying said lining members to the wall of theexcavation from the support during the operation of the excavatingmeans.

3. In excavating apparatus of the class described, the combination withexcavating In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus oi the classdescribed, the combination with excavating means, and a support therefor adapted to sustain lining members, of n'icchanism rendered operativeby said lining members for applying the same to the wall of theexcavation. I

In excavating apparatus oi' the class descril ed, the combination withexcavating means, a support therefor adapted to convey lining membersfor the excavation and means for operating the excavating means andmoving the support, of mechanism adapted to be operated by the actuatingmeans aforesaid and to be rendered operative by said lining members forapplying the same to the wall of the excavation.

described, the combination with excavating means, a support thereforadapted to convey lining members for the excavation and means foroperating the excavating means, or mechanism a lapted to be operated bythe actuating means afoesaid and to be rendered operative by said liningmembers'ior applying the same to the wall of the excavation, and meansfor conveying said lining members to the applying mechanism aforesaid.

7. In excavating apparatus of the class described, the combination withexcavating I means, a support therefor adapted to convey lining membersfor the excavation and means for operating the support, or means forsuccessively and automatically applying the lining members from thesupport to the wall of the excavation as the excavating means advances.l

8. In a tunnel excavating and lining machine of the class described,adapted to emplace lining members on the wall of the excavation, thecombination with excavating instrumentalities, means for operating thesame and for advancing the machine, and means forming a part of saidmachine and operable therewith for conveying the lining members theretoduring the operation (if the machine.

9. In a tunnel excavating and lining machine of the class described,adapted to emplace liningmcmbers on the wall of the excavation, thecombination with excavat ing instrumentalities, means for operating thesame and for advancing the machine, of: means operable with the machinefor conveying the lining members to the ma- 0. In excavating apparatusof the class chine during the operation thereof, and means for actuatingsaid lining members to thereby shift them from the conveying means intowall engaging position.

10. In a tunnel excavating and lining ma chine, the combination ofexcavating instrumentalities, means for operating the same and foradvancing the machine, and conveying means for removing the materialexcavated out of the tunnel, said conveyor also constituting means forsimultaneously conveying lining material into the tunnel.

11. In tunnel excavating and lining upparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material during excavation operation, thecombination of excavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said liningmaterial comprising a lifting member, means for actuating said liftingmember when the lining material is in operative position with respectthereto, and trip means for holding said actuating means inoperativeuntil the material is in the position aforesaid.

12. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material during excavation operation, thecombination of excavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said liningmaterial comprising a lifting member, means for actuating said liftingmember when the lining material isin operative position with respectthereto, means for holding said actuating means inoperative until thematerial is in the position aforesaid, and means for conveying thematerial into said position to thereby render operative theactuating-means aforesaid.

13. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation, the combination ofexcavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said lining materialcomprising a lifting member, means for actuating said lifting memberwhen the lining material is in operative position with respect thereto,means for holding said actu ating means inoperative until the materialis in the position aforesaid, and means for directing said material intothe operative position to be acted upon by the lifting means aforesaid,said material effecting release of the holding means.

14-. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation, the combination ofexcavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said lining materialcomprising a lifting member, actuating means therefor, a tripping memberfor holding said actuating means inoperative until the material is inoperative position and operable by the lining material to effect releaseof said lifting member for applying said material to the Wall.

15. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining materialin the excavation,

lishing operating connection between the power instrumentalities and thelifting member whereby to apply the lining 1naterial to the wall of theexcavation,

16. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation, the combinationof. excavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said lining materialcomprising a pivotally mounted lifting member, a crank shaft connectedto said lifting member, and means for actuating said crank shaft toeffect lifting operation of the lifting member and application of thelining material to the wall.

17. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation, the combination ofexcavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said lining materialcomprising a pivotally mounted lifting member, a crank shaft connectedto said lifting member, driving means for said shaft normally disengagedwith respect to the shaft, and'means for establishing connection betweenthe driving means and the shaft by the lining material.

18. I11 tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation, the combination ofexcavating mechanism, mechanism for applying said lining mate rialcomprising a pivotally mounted lifting member, a crank shaft connectedto said lifting member, driving means for said shaft normally disengagedwith respect to the shaft, and means for establishing connection betweenthe driving means and the shaft through the lining material, said meansbeing operative to interrupt the driving connection when the materialhas been lifted into wall engaging position.

19. In tunnel excavating and lining apparatus of the class describedadapted to emplace lining material in the excavation,

the combination of excavating mechanism,

mechanism for applying said lining mate rial comprlsmg a lifting armarranged 111 the path of movement of the lining material,

means for directing said material into position to be engaged by saidarm, and means for actuating said arm including a clutch and a tripmember for controlling the clutch and operable'by the lining material asthe latter is moved into engaging position with respect to said armwhereby to establish connection between the actuating means and the arm.

20. In tunnel excavating apparatus, the combination of excavatingmechanism, mechanism for applying lining material to the tunnel Wallwithout inte ruption of the excavating means, power instrunientalitiescommon to said excavating and lining mechanisms, and means forestablishing operative connection between the power instrumentalitiesand the applying mechanism at a predetermined time.

21. In tunnel excavating apparatus, the combination of excavatingmechanism, ineluding a support arranged to carry lining plates adaptedto be applied to the wall oi' the excavation as the excavating operationproceeds, means for conveying said plates to wall applying position, andmeans for disengaging said plates successively from the conveying meanswhen the plates reach a predetermined point in their travel to permitthem to spring into engagement with the wall.

22. In tunnel excavating apparatus, the

' combination of excavating mechanism, 1n-

cluding a support arranged to carry lining plates adapted to be appliedto the wall of the excavation composed of spring material, means forconveying said plates into wall applying position in contractedcondition, and means for disengaging the plates from the conveying meansand applying them to the wall, said plates having wall engaging elementsfor holding them in their engaged position. v

23. In tunneling apparatus of the class described, the combination ofmechanism for applying lining material to the wall of the tunnel,supporting means therefor, and means for moving the supportsimultaneously with the lining operation.

24. Apparatus for lining tunnels comprising a support adapted to carrylining material into an excavation, means for moving said supportthrough the tunnel, movable means for carrying said material on thesupport, and means for applying said mate rial to the wall of the tunnelwhen said material reaches a predetermined point in its movement uponthe support.

25. In apparatus or the class described for excavating and liningtunnels, the combination of a cutter head, means detachably'coa' form topermit of movement of the same into the tunnel for releasing said platesto permit the same to spring into engagement with the wall of thetunnel,

27. In a tunnel lining machine of the class described, a conveyer forconveying lining material to the point of application and comprisingmeans for holding bowed lining plates in slightly contracted form topermit of movement of the same into the tunnel, carrier devices uponWhich said lining material is mounted for movement on the holding meansaforesaid, and means for disengaging the lining material from thecarrying and holdingcmeans aforesaid to apply the same to the tunnelwall.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JAMES o. MACK.

